by Katharine Lackey, USA TODAY

by Katharine Lackey, USA TODAY

Pope Francis called Sunday for an end to the violence in Iraq, where religious minorities are being persecuted and driven out by the militant group the Islamic State.

In his weekly Sunday blessing, Francis said the news in Iraq "leave us in dismay and disbelief," citing "thousands of people, including many Christians, driven from their homes in a brutal manner; children dying of thirst and hunger."

"All this gravely offends God and humanity. Hatred is not to be carried in the name of God," the pontiff said. "War is not to be waged in the name of God."

The pontiff expressed confidence that an "effective political solution on both the international and the local levels may be found to stop these crimes and re-establish the rule of law."